About Us

There is a good chance you found us accidentally by using the word “taint” in your search (If you found us on purpose, you deserve our accolades). Of course we don’t know what you were looking for, but you stumbled on a damn cool project. Look around; let us help send you on a musical journey. Here you will find a number of album reviews from the strange and extreme to the tame and mainstream. Our reviewers are a bunch of obsessive miscreants. Most of us are avid music collectors and have been involved in the music world for decades. A couple of us have been in or are still in bands.

There are no rules on Tickle Your Taint Blog. Our reviewers might make you laugh, or piss you off; both results are legitimate. One reviewer might write a glowing review of an album another might tear it apart. We may end up adopting a single review system, such as five stars, or each reviewer may use his own or none at all. We may have a new review every week or we could end up with one every six months. This blog exists as a social experiment to build community among a diverse group of music maniacs – our reviewers and hopefully you. Pull down your knickers, lube up and join us in tickling yours and our taints.

If you are in a band, have released a physical (rather than an MP3) CD or record, and would like us to review your efforts, contact us at tickleyourtaint@yahoo.com

Pages

Thursday, July 20, 2017

Chester Bennington (1976-2017)

By SoDak

I just
read that Chester Bennington, the lead singer of Linkin Park, killed himself. In
general, Linkin Park is not a band that would peak my interest or that I would
devote much attention. I am not completely sure why, beyond the fact that I
often do not care for much of nu metal. But, in the case of Linkin Park, I did
explore some of their music. For years, I had a job in a college library. The
students who I worked with would tell me about their favorite bands, which
consisted of many indie bands and some nu metal groups. Many of these younger
folks were ecstatic about Linkin Park, explaining that they loved the emotion
within the songs and appreciated the sincerity of the words. Several of them
told me that this band meant a great deal to them, as this music helped make
“the world less shitty.” Whether or not, I ended liking a band, it was good for me to
hear this point from a younger generation. For me, Willie Nelson, Don Williams,
Johnny Cash, The Cure, Psychedelic Furs, New Model Army, Subhumans, Dissent,
Dead Silence, and Dead Kennedys helped me survive. This is music that I was
exposed to, that my friends shared with me, and that I found. For other folks,
it is going to be different music. Nevertheless, the fact that music can
connect with individuals so personally is important. It is really quite an
accomplishment.

Seventeen
years ago, I was living in a garage that was converted into an apartment. It
was dark and musty. One night, my girlfriend and I had the radio on, which was
rare. We heard a song that mixed metal, grunge, and hip hop. We were slightly
amused, but we also liked the chorus. It ended up being, “In the End,” by
Linkin Park. The song may be an earworm, as the chorus stayed with us for days.
Nevertheless, I thought about the students who really liked this band, and
decided to pick up the first record, especially since it was available for a
dollar at one of the local shops. We listened to it several times. My
girlfriend really liked it, and to this day enjoys playing “In the End.” From
time to time, I buy other records by Linkin Park, when they are a couple
dollars. I tell myself that I am picking them up for my girlfriend, but it is
really my own curiosity. I am still not a big fan of the style of music, but I
can hear the various influences from other bands, which I like, in their songs.
The dual vocals can be quite engaging. I also appreciate the sincerity of the
lyrics. Over the years, I have found quite a few songs that I really enjoy. But for
the most part, I remain interested in this band, simply because the music Linkin
Park made connected so deeply with many younger folks who I really like. It
allowed me to learn more about their lives, to open myself up to different
connections, and to appreciate the important contributions of artists/musicians.

1 comment:

I had no idea this guy is only a year older than me, that makes his suicide all the more disturbing. I think you have to have grown up in the nineties to really understand nu-metal. Linkin Park was a bit too polished, and melodramatic for me, but they wrote solid songs that meant alot to people.